Sexual health is a field of great importance to men, most especially in terms of how it impacts on their emotional health and quality of life. We are fortunate that issues relating to sexual highs and lows are much more in the public domain these days, and there are now many simple ways of dealing with any problems, and avoiding the potential emotional problems that often accompany it, by changing the diet and using natural products.

Low libido

Many of the men who consult me complain that their libido or sexual drive has diminished or that it is not quite as strong as they would like. This is not exclusively an older man's problem, either. I have had male patients as young as 35 who have come to me to help them with this issue.

When a man is young and complains of low sex drive I usually find that the problem is caused by one or more of the following factors: long working hours, unrelenting stress, poor sleeping habits or interrupted sleep (for example, there may be a new baby in the home). Men aged 50 and over may find their testosterone levels dropping due to age - low sex drive and impaired sexual function are often caused by a drop in levels of this hormone. However, age is not necessarily the problem.

Other factors that have a detrimental effect on sexual function include drug use (and, of course, abuse). Taking marijuana for long periods of time has been found to decrease sex drive and sperm count. Cigarette smoking and alcohol have also been found to impair sexual function.

Mostly, men avoid admitting their lack of interest or function to their wife, partner or lover, struggling to cover up the problem with excuses such as fatigue. Sometimes, men can blame their partners, which usually only exacerbates the tension. In my experience, it is wiser to try to explain the problem to your partner so they can make adjustments and assist you to find healthy solutions.

A decrease in sexual function needs to be discussed with your local doctor and a good naturopath who can suggest ways of dealing with this problem.

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Men’s health